Dry-washing machine for gold.



Paten te'd Mar. l2; lam.-

L. n. HUBBARD.

DRY WASHING MACHINE FOR GOLD.

(No Il odelJ (Application filed Apr. 5. 1900.}

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No. 669,928. Patented M ar. I2, {90L L. n. HUBBARD.

DRY WASHING MACHINE FOR GOLD. (Application flied Apr. 5, 1900.}

(No llodel.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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LEMOTT D. HUBBARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 669,928, dated March12, 1901. Application filed April 6,1900. Serial No. 11,743. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEMoTT D. HUBBARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and usefullmpro'vements in Dry-Washing Machines for Gold,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to .a dry-Washing machine forgold.

My invention is intended for use in placermining, and has for one objectto provide an improved apparatus for rapidly and eco nomicallyrecovering gold by mechanically forcing the gold-bearing sand to travelover a series of grooves or pockets containing mercury, with which thegold may amalgamate, while the refuse sand will be carried forward andout of the apparatus.

Other objects of the invention relate to certain details of constructionand to combinations or arrangements of parts, all as more,

fully hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I have illustratedthe same in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents asectional side elevation of an apparatus constructed according to myinvention. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 across-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The numeral 4 indicates a cast-iron bedplate, which is planed perfectlysmooth on its upper surface, so that the sand may pass readily over thesame, and said upper surface is provided at regular intervals with aseries of transverse grooves or pockets 5 for holding mercury orquicksilver. Each of these grooves 5 has at one side of the machine anupwardly-extending pipe 6, through which the mercury may be supplied tothe groove, and on the opposite side of the machine a cook or faucet 7for drawing off the mercury therefrom. Along each side of the bed-platefrom endto end thereof extends a relatively wide angle-iron 8, theseangle-irons being bolted to the bed plate and tending to strengthen thesame. On their upper edges these angle-irons have an upright flange 9,which serve as a lower track for an endless brush to be presentlydescribed.

The machine as a whole is supported on a ated manually by a handle 23.

series of an gleiron standards 10, to which the bed-plate 4 andangle-irons 8 are securely bolted, these standards being offset, asindicated at 11, to provide a support for said angle-irons, as clearlyshown in Fig. 3. The standards 10 are extended upward beyond the offsetportion 11 and have bolted to their upper ends, as indicated at 12,angle-irons 13, which extend from end to end of the machine on each sidethereof and serve as the upper track for the endless brushing apparatus.This brushing apparatus consistsof a series of rectangular frames 14,which are pivotally connected one to the other by means of aseries ofrods 15, having journaled on opposite ends grooved wheels 16, designedto run on the tracks 9 and 13. Each of the frames 14 has secured in it abrush 17, which is made by inserting steel wires 'in a perforated steelplate. Two standards 10 are arranged relatively near to each other atthe center and at each side of the machine, to which standards aresecured cross-beams 18, which afford supports for the journal-bearings19 of a shaft 20, extending transversely of'the machine. Near oppositeends of this shaft are secured sprocket-wheels 21, which are adapted toengage in their revolutions the rods 15 to cause the travel of theendless brushing apparatus, as will be understood. The shaft 20 isrevolved by means of a drive- Wheel 22, fast on one end thereof andoper- The track 13 is shorter at each end than the track 9 and isprovided with downwardly-curved ends 24, while the track 9 projects ateach end beyond the track 13 and is curved upwardly at its ends, asindicated at 25, sufiicient space being provided between the tracks topermit the passage therebetween of the wheels 16, which at this pointwill be in contact with both rails, so that they will pass readily fromone to the other in the travel of the endless brush. The curved portions24: will also serve as supports for the endless brush at the ends of themachine in lieu of stationary wheels,

as will be seen.

The machine is made to incline from one end to the other and at itsupper end is provided a sand-box 26, supported on a leg 27. On the topof this sand-box may be arranged a sieve 28 for sifting the sand intosaid box.

in construction and operation and having no complicated parts ordelicate mechanism may be cheaply manufactured.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In amachine of the character described, a bed-plate arranged at aninclination and provided on its upper face with a series oftransversely-extending grooves for containing mercury, an endlessbrushing apparatus consisting of a series of brushes suitably spacedapartand pivotally connected together and adapted to contact with andpass over said upper surface of the bed-plate, and means for causing thetravel of said endless brushing apparatus' 2. In a machine of thecharacter described, a bed-plate having transversely-extending grooveson its upper surface for containing mercury, suitableinlets and outletsfor said grooves, an upper track provided with downwardly-extendingcurved ends, a lower track having upwardly-extending ends overlappingthe curved ends of the upper track, an endless brushing apparatusprovided With a series of brushes pivotally connected together and meansengaging said pivoted connection brushes pivotally connected togetherand suitably operating between said standards, a series of groovedwheels connected to said brushes and traveling upon said tracks, andmeans foroperating said brushing apparatus.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with abed-plate provided on its upper surface with a series oftransverselyextending grooves, an upper and lower track, and means forsuitably supporting said bedplate and tracks, of an endless brushingapparatus consisting of a series of rectangular frames pivotallyconnected together by a series of transversely-extending rods carryinggrooved wheels, and a brush secured to each of said frames and adaptedto contact with said upper surface, and means engaging said rods fortransmitting motion to said endless brushing apparatus.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit- IIOSSGS.

LEMOTT D. HUBBARD. Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. KENNEY, LYMAN A. BENDER.

